OntarioRPN1

OP I just wanted to let you know that I have been nursing for 5 years and only recently did I find a job I love. During the first few years I wanted to quit nursing altogether and thought I could never do any of it. But by persevering I got the experience I needed to land a job that I just clicked with. Hang in there. I know it's not easy but you will get through it. As someone else said, it's not permanent

I work in the ED and definitely do not possess all of these qualities! Don't let the stereotype of ED nurses deter you from trying it out. I always thought it would be the last place I'd work and turns out there's nowhere I'd rather be!

$30/hr plus evening/weekend premiums and 14% in lieu of vacation/sick/benefits I work in a community hospitalamd have 5 years experience

I just want to point out that here in Ontario there are some RPN's working with a BScN degree. You get 3 tries to pass the registration exam. For prospective RN's, if they fail 3 times, they can write the RPN registration exam. I have worked with a few RPNs in that situation. I am an RPN and our scope is pretty wide. We do a lot but our patient assignment is SUPPOSED to be for stable patients with predictable outcomes... which is the major difference. I take blood, place foleys, do ekg, initiate and maintain IV (although i cannot push meds... we usually opt for a minibag if no RN is available to push), splints and casts, assist with minor surgeries (outpatient surgeries), including sterile tray prep and "circulating" role (ie for vasectomies, para/thoracentisis, biopsies, LEEPs, bone marrow bx, etc). For me, i chose to be an RPN because i love doing all of those skills but do not want the responsibilities that comes with more critically ill patients. I love my RPN role :)